Radicalization and Terrorism: Research within the Australian Context

Abstract: Terrorism perpetrated by some Muslims has become a global phenomenon that has significantly impacted many nations. In the post-September 11 era, Australia has experienced threat of terrorist attacks from organisations including Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah. In response to this phenomenon the Australian government has heightened security measures and engaged various strategies to counter-radicalization. While the growing body of global research focussing on radicalization and terrorism may inform such strategies, research within the Australian context would provide a cogent platform for assisting in the response to terrorism at a national level. This paper provides discussion focussing on the paucity in literature on the question of radicalization and terrorism. Furthermore, significant gaps in the literature are highlighted and future research recommendations are suggested that would assist in broadening current understanding of the processes of radicalization and terrorism

Engaging children at-risk through World Vision Australia’s Kids Hope Aus. Program

This paper reports on the findings of a pilot study examining teacher perceptions of the efficacy of the Kids Hope Aus. program. Kids Hope Aus. is an early intervention and prevention program for children at risk of social and academic disengagement. The program emphasises the significance of developing a child’s social skills to build resilience and enhance the child’s social engagement and general academic achievement within the school setting. The intervention incorporates an adult/child-mentoring framework that serves to ameliorate the effects of specific risk factors that place children at greater risk of vulnerability. The evaluation involved 188 teachers drawn from rural and metropolitan districts in the State of Victoria, Australia, of children who participated in the Kids Hope Aus. program. The findings of the study provide preliminary data that identifies the Kids Hope Aus. program as a cogent intervention framework for fostering greater social inclusion and academic enhancement for young children that can be easily disseminated in regular school communities.  Keywords:  mentoring, at-risk children, Kids Hope Aus., early intervention and prevention

Acknowledging another face in the virtual crowd: Reimagining the online experience in higher education through an online pedagogy of care

With the rapid expansion of online learning as a dominant pedagogical approach in higher education, significant research has been undertaken to explore the impacts of internet-based technologies to promote student engagement. Current advances in online learning have fostered innovative, and often nuanced approaches to teaching and learning that have the potential to promote rich and potentially transformative learning outcomes for higher education students. However, there is a growing body of evidence that clearly highlights that online learning may have a deleterious impact on a student’s sense of connection, leading to experiences of isolation and disempowerment. Such experiences call for an ongoing reimagination of the online teaching space to ensure that students maintain a strong sense of identity within their virtual educational community. This paper emphasises an approach to online learning that serves to foster positive engagement across the student lifecycle. Using Nell Noddings’ framework of Moral Education, we engaged in the process of critical reflection on our own teaching over time, using student data to support analyses

Making sense of how I learn: Metacognitive capital and the first year university student

The retention and engagement of students entering universities globally has been a significant priority area in higher education over the last decade in alignment with a widening participation agenda. Research focusing on the successful transition of first year students has been widespread and contributed to the current body of knowledge focusing on best practices in engaging first year students. This paper focuses on a factor of significant and growing importance in this context: critical thinking. We argue that students who are not equipped with sufficient metacognitive capital when entering university are at increased risk of attrition. Further, we suggest some possible avenues for intervention

The first year experience : a comparison of institutional led approaches to the orientation and engagement of first year students in higher education

Abstract: In the last decade increasing attention has been drawn to the successful orientation and engagement of first year students in higher education in Australia. Such attention has been influenced in part by growing concern with increasing student attrition across universities nationally. This concern has been shared internationally, with significant research being undertaken in the U.K. to determine cogent methods for engaging first year students in higher education. This paper reports on the work currently undertaken at Griffith University, Australia and four institutions based in the U.K., with a focus on institution-led approaches to the first year experience. Each institution’s method of engaging and attending to the diverse needs of the first year cohort is discussed with a primary focus on common trends across each institution. First year student engagement data drawn from Griffith University is presented to lend support to the various initiatives examined

Improving the first year through an institution-wide approach : the role of first year advisors

An example of a long term strategic development aimed at improving first year student engagement and retention in an Australian-based university is presented. One innovative practice has been the creation and implementation of the First Year Advisor (FYA) role, an academic position, situated at a degree level within the Faculties/Schools across the University. This paper presents vignettes of local level FYA initiatives as well as strategic institution-wide activity as an example of one approach which sought to engage in sustained first year student experience improvement